Inhaler



Jan. l, 1952 M. R. FIELDS 2,581,182

INHALER Filed March 14, 195o 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 58 156 l 5 ii L "41m/wma Macy? P. fields ////Z// ///7/ xA Y By WS,

Jan. 1, 1952 M, R, F|ELD5 2,581,182

INHALER Filed March 14, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 WMS/T@ Patented Jan. 1, 1952 "INHALER Mack .'R. Fields, Libertyville, Ill., 'assigner 'to Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, `Ill.,a corpora-tion of vIllinois Application Marc'lrli, 1950,:Seral N o. 149,491

(Cl. 12S-206) This invention relates to new vand improved inhalers and more particularly to inhalers adapted to d'ispensefa powdered medicament.

Included amongthe objects and `advantages of the invention is 'the-dispensing of an exact, predetermined and very smalldosage of'a powdered medicament on each inhalation drawn through the inhaler.

In the prior art there have been proposed many types of vinhalers including liquid, vapor and powder inhalingdevices, but none are capableof dispensing an exact dosage oneach inhalation of any ofthe types of medicament used. Obviously, the total dosage may bel controlled by the amount of medicament originally chargedinto the inhaler.

Certain drugs are extremely potent vin very small quantities, and though-the total dosage to bea'dniinistered over a period of time is not overly toxic, the entire dosage or substantial part of it, if taken at one time, will 'ordinarily manifest toxic symptoms. 'It is important that such potent drugsbe accurately dispensed in the unit dosages as well as the total dosage.

"Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a verticalsection of an inhaler'according'to the invention;

Figure '2 is a section on IineZ-Zof Figure '1;

Figure 3 is'a section taken on line 3-3 of vFigure l v'Figure Yi `is a vertical `section of thhe-inhaler 'i showingthe position of the parts thereof vduring the-manipulation to measure out'powderpand Figure 5 is a vsection of the inhalerindelivery position.

In the embodiment ofthe invention selected for illustration, the inhaler comprises a main body 'I Il of transparentpolyethylene plastic, 'having an annular constriction I2 approximately in the middie-'of lthe tube. The constriction I2 isan enlarged'wall section with'a central conical holeSi! surrounded by eight inverted conical holes I4. A plastic medicament tube '32 is of asize tobe easily slidable in the main tube ID and is disposed in the tube in the end above the constriction |22. The medicament container 32 comprises a tube having a constricted end portion 34 and an upper end 3S. Adjacent the upper end 3S vthere is an overhanging lip portion 38'having a downward skirt 4i! and an upward bulge 42. A conicalbaie plug IS is heat-sealed into the conical hole-311.

The baiile has a flared skirt I 8 on thelarger-end, and a small tip 44 on the smaller end. A stainlessmetal'pin Zi is seated with a pressed t'into ahole 46 in the bafe I6. The pin 20 has an enlarged'portion 22 spaced above the top of the '2 b'aiile I6, and-"a crown 241atthetop of'zthelehlarged end 22.

The restricted end 34'of the lmedicamentIcontainer 32 defines va 'small cylinder "62 :having a wallf48, which fits over the-enlarged portion i12.

The medicament container '32 is'aXially-rslidable in the tube it. Theshoulder' of the plug it restricts the inward movement of themedicament chamber, and the crown 524 restricts the outward movement. The parts of the constricte'd end 34 of theme'dicament tubeand the `enlarged portion "'22 of Athepin are so 'made thatthe constrietedfen'd 34 of themedicament tube is closed at all times in anyposition :of the medicament tube in the sense that powder 'from 'themedica ment chamber 32 cannot pass freely into the main tube lil. vThe outer end v36 is closed with -a cap 52, which is a metalfdisc having `a'presseii 'ht in the bulge 42, and retains the powder in fthe medicament tube "32. The inhalermay lbe enclosed in a light metalcupeshaped vholdertube 54. The open endoi the tube '54 may'bepushed up under the skirt iii) of the medicament-container 32 to form a substantially airtight seal therewith, heldin place by friction. In place in the holder, the .tube I0 and `container132 are restrained by the holder from movement tothe relative positions of Figures 4 and 5.

As packaged, the inhaler `'contains f a ycharge vvoi powder 55 in medicament container -32, .sealed'in by the cap vt2, andthe holder 54'ispushedfover to the inhaler and up underthe skirt 49 to-'completeftheiinished. package. i

The inhaler. as assembled in the nishedpackage, .is yused .by 'holding .the inhaler in vertical position, as vindicated vin Figure .1, and grasping the lip-33 andthe sheath y54 'and pullinginopp site directions. "The opposite displacement ofthe parts causes they medicamentichamberz to slide along tithe barrel it, through the position .of Figure 4f, and up to the crown24,vasshown in Figure'. 'The-sheath 54 is then completely withdrawn fromthe body cfg-the inhaler, andlthe in* haler: may be 1 turned into the. horizontal position shown in :Figure `5. The user then places the inhalerend 'to inhis mouthV orinostril, as may Vbe prescribed, andinhales. The inhalation causes airfto movein through-the 'slots' I 5, which provide air 'passages around the medicament container 3.2,and throughthe conical passagesllland subsequently toV the'person of the user.

In the vertical position, and with the parts disposed as shown in Figure l, powder sinithe chamber 55 lls 'the'spacefz defined by'theccylinder walli, rthevpin :f1-2:0, the Lbaieend ,44 and :the aenlargement 22. As the medicament chamber slides outwardly, the chamber 62 is first closed at the top, as in Figure 4, and subsequently opened at the bottom, as in Figure 5. Thus an exact volume of powder is liberated and may cascade down over the plug end 44 and come to rest on the shoulder 50 and in the holes M, and if any powder goes through the holes I4, on the skirt i8. When air is then drawn through the inhaler, all this powder is picked up by the air and borne along into the person of the user.

For each subsequent inhalation the medicament container 32 is pushed into the tube lil to the position of Figure 1, and subsequently pulled out to the position of Figure 5, to release successive increments of powder, all equal in amount.

The dose of the powder for each inhalation may be varied by changing the dimensions of the parts.

A preferred size for potent medicaments is about one-half inch outside diameter by two and one-half inches in length. In such a size the amount of each increment is so small that even a careful user could hardly measure it out by eye, without variations of from 30% to 100% on the successive doses. Also, the multiple air jets entering through the passages l5 set up a veritable tornado in the chambers and passages where this minute charge has been strewn around, compared with the amount of powder to be picked up, so that all the measured charge soon iinds its way into the patients body. Depth of penetration and point of final deposit in the patients body cavity will depend on the density and grain size of the powder, which can be varied to secure best results.

Others may readily adapt the invention for use under various conditions of service by employing one or more of the novel features involved, or equivalents thereof. As at present advised with respect to the apparent scope of my invention, I desire to claim the following subject matter.

I claim:

l. An inhaler comprising a body having a passage therethrough; a container for powdered medicament reciprocably disposed in said passage; said container having a restricted tubular opening at one end; means rigid with said body and extending through said tubular opening and including spaced -portions adapted to iit and telescope in said tubular opening; the wall oi said tubular opening being of sufficient length to bridge the space between said spaced telescoping portions, thereby forming a chamber of predetermined capacity; and stop means for limiting the movement of said container in both directions; said stop means permitting the wall of said tubular opening to move far enough to clear said telescoping portions at either end, whereby the chamber dened may be opened to communicate with the interior of said container and receive powder or at the other end to discharge powder; said telescoping portions comprising a constriction in said passage having a central boss fitting said tubular opening and an axial pin rigid with said boss to support the other telescoping portion.

2. An inhaler comprising a body having a passage therethrough; a container for powdered medicament reciprocably disposed in said passage; said container having a restricted tubular opening at one end; means rigid with said body and extending through said tubular opening and including a pair of spaced portions adapted to t and telescope in said tubular opening; the wall of said tubular opening being of suicient length to bridge the space between said spaced telescoping portions, thereby forming a chamber of predetermined capacity; stop means adjacent said telescoping portions for limiting the movement of said container in both directions; said stop means permitting the wall of said tubular opening to move far enough to clear said telescoping portions at either end, whereby the chamber thus defined may be opened to communicate with the interior of said container and receive powder or at the other end to discharge powder; said telescoping portions comprising a constriction in said passage having a central boss fitting said tubular opening and an axial pin rigid with said boss to support the other telescoping portion; and powder receiving means positioned adjacent said constriction to receive powder dispensed from said container.

3. An inhaler according to claim 2 in which the powder receiving means is a plurality of conical holes having their large end adjacent said container.

4. An inhaler comprising a body having a passage therethrough; a container for powdered medicament reciprocably disposed in said passage; said container having a restricted tubular opening at one end; means rigid with said body and extending through said tubular opening and including spaced portions adapted to fit and telescope in said tubular opening; the wall of said tubular opening being of suicient length to bridge the space between said spaced telescoping portions; stop means for limiting the movement of said container in both directions; said stop means permitting the wall of said tubular opening to move far enough to clear said telescoping portions at either end, whereby the chamber thus defined may be opened to communicate with the interior of said container and receive powder or at the other end to discharge powder; said telescoping portions comprising a constriction in said passage having a central boss tting said tubular opening and an axial pin rigid with said boss to support the other telescoping portion; said constriction containing tapered holes therethrough with their large ends adjacent the discharge end of said chamber to receive discharged powder; the inlet end of said passage debouching in a plurality of small passages adjacent the remote end of said container; said small passages being aligned with the tapered holes in said constriction; said container having a iiange adapted to close said small passages when said container is in engagement with said constriction; said constriction including retaining means at the small ends of said tapered passages adapted to function as a shelf and retain discharged powder until air flow through said passages dlslodges it.

5. An inhaler comprising a main tube having a constriction intermediate the ends thereof; an outlet at one end of said tube; a powdered medicament container reciprocably disposed in said tube between said constriction land the opposite end of said tube; said container having a restricted tubular opening; a pin attached to said constriction, having an enlarged portion adapted to t in and close said restricted opening; a boss on said constriction to fit in and close said restricted opening; stop means on said enlarged portion restricting outward movement of said medicament container; means in the nature of a predeterminedcapacity cavity defined by said boss, said enlarged pin portion, and the wall of said restricted opening, to dispense a predetermined amount of powdered medicament from said medicament container onto said constriction, by the movement of the wall of said restricted opening from said boss to said stop means; and air passage means between said tube and said medicament container to direct a stream of air through said tube, whereby the movement of said stream of air picks up powder dispensed from said medicament container.

6. An inhaler comprising a main tube having a perforate constriction intermediate the ends thereof; an outlet at one end of said tube; a powdered medicament container reciprocably disposed in said tube between said constriction and the opposite end of said tube; said container having a restricted tubular opening; a pin attached to said constriction, having an enlarged end portion adapted to iit in and close said restricted opening; means on said constriction to t in and close said restricted opening; stop means on said pin; said stop means and said constriction restricting movement of said medicament container therebetween; means in the nature of a predetermined-capacity cavity defined by said means on said constriction, said enlarged pin portion, and the wall of said -restricted opening, to dispense a predetermined amount of powdered medicament from said medicament container onto said constriction, by the movement of the wall of said restricted opening from said constriction to said stop means; and air passage means between said tube and said medicament container, to direct a stream of air through said tube and said outlet, whereby the movement of said stream of air picks up powder dispensed from said medicament container.

7. An inhaler comprising, in combination: a main tube; a medicament container in the nature of a capsule reciprocable in one end of said main tube; said capsule having an enlarged head limiting its movement into said tube; said head having a skirt for external engagement with the end of said tube at the end of the inward movement; said capsule having a restricted tubular outlet at its inner end; means in the nature of stationary disposed means having a portion of reduced diameter and passing through said restricted opening for segregating a predetermined charge of powder when said opening is pushed inwardly beyond the adjacent end of said reduced portion; said stationary means including a shoulder limiting outward movement vof said capsule and a cylindrical portion adjacent said shoulder adapted to t in said restricted opening and form a tightE seal; the wall of said restricted opening having f a length not less than the reduced portion of said stationary means; discharge guide means positioned to receive a charge of powder; said discharge guide means discharging into an annular space; and an annular spreader beyond said annular space leaving a restricted annular opening into the discharge end of said main tube.

8. An inhaler comprising, in combination: a main tube; a medicament container reciprocable in one end of said main tube; a charge of medicament in said container; said container having an enlarged head limiting its movement into said tube; said head having a skirt for external engagement with the end of said tube at the' end of the inward movement; said container having a restricted tubular outlet at its inner end; means in the nature of a stationary pin having a portion of reduced diameter and passing through said tubular outlet for segregating a predetermined charge of powder when said outlet is pushed inwardly beyond the adjacent end of said reduced portion; said pin including a shoulder limiting outward movement of said container and a cyclindrical portion adjacent said shoulder adapted to t in said tubular outlet and form a tight seal; said tubular outlet having a length not less than the reduced portion of said pin; discharge guide means positioned to receive said segregated charge of powder falling out of said measuring chamber when said container is moved onto said cylindrical portion; said discharge guide means discharging into an annular space; an annular spreader 4beyond said annular space leaving a restricted annular opening into the discharge end of said main tube; and a cup-shaped cover enclosing said tube, and adapted to have the open end thereof sealed under said skirt when said container is in the innermost position.

MACK R. FIELDS.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Reeve Feb. l10, 1925 Number 

